August Richard Ferkey

August Richard Ferkey "Dick" passed away on June 15th at age 86 at home in the loving care of his wife of 60 years, Jeanette.
Dick was born on January 20, 1939 in Eau Pleine, WI. He was the fourth of six kids.
He served in the US Army and was active-duty, driving supply trucks in France.
Dick married the love of his life Jeanette (Sternot) on May 29, 1965. They built a house together on Ten Mile Avenue in Wisconsin Rapids where they would live for the next 30 years. They had four children, of which Dick would often say he couldn't be any prouder.
Dick worked at Port Edwards paper mill where he retired after 25 years.
As a young man Dick had that special Ferkey gene that made him love cars. He would buy and sell cars like nobody's business to make a few dollars. The kids and grandkids were astounded as they would see classic cars and Dad would say, "I owned one of those, too."
Dick was known for his passion for raising bantam show chickens and he was a member of the Rosecomb Federation for many years. His children would remember coffee cups in the yard where he would stop and rest to watch his chickens. He was so proud when a boy he had given chickens to back in Wisconsin bragged 40 years later that his chickens were descended from the August Ferkey line. That's how good they were.
Dick was a lifelong learner. The kids remember that when they were working on schoolwork and needed the encyclopedias, the missing volumes were always on the floor next to Dad's bed. Before Google was ever invented his endless curiosity for facts and knowledge was filled between the worn covers of World Book or Britannica encyclopedias.
In 2001, Dick and Jeanette moved from the home they had built and raised their family in to Lebanon, Missouri to get away from the cold Wisconsin winters that chilled him to the core. In Lebanon, they were members of the Trinity Lutheran Church where Dick was an usher for some time. They met an incredible group of friends, enjoyed going to country music shows at Prader Theater and dancing at the Hughes Senior Center.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, August Ferkey, and Eunice (Johnson), his sister Marlene (Fred) Henke, and his brothers Roy, George, and Gene (Berky).
He is survived by his sister Pat (Duane) Hofmeister, sister-in-laws Audrey and Donna Ferkey, his loving and devoted wife Jeanette (Sternot), his children and their spouses Denise Ferkey and Jeff Swaluk, Wade and Amy (Dowd) Ferkey, Sharon and Brandon Jacoby, Linda and Kyle Severson, and children by love and friendship Aleica and Derick Davis. He is also survived by and missed by his grandchildren Maya Swaluk, Adam and Becca Ferkey, Maggie, Alex, Aaron and Addy Jacoby, and Hailey and Nolan Severson.
Funeral services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1300 Kent Drive, Lebanon, MO on June 26th with 1:00 visitation and 2:00 funeral service.
Rest in peace. We miss you so much!